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No. 505,282I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOR A. THORSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE S. H. SIN CLAIRCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

STARCHING-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,282, datedSeptember 19, 1893.

Application filed July 25. 1892. Serial No. 441,123. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOR A. THoRsEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Starching-Machines,ofwhich the following is a specification.

In a starching machine embodying the principles of my invention Iprovide a bed or holder on which the article to be starched is placed,and a reciprocating stai-ching roll, by whlch arrangement, the starchingroll can at one end of its stroke, take a suitable quantity of starchfrom a suitable source of supply, and in then passing back over thearticle, distribute the starch along the same. In order to provide for amore uniform distribution of starch I arrange between the starching rolland bed, a iiexible foraminous or open work sheet of textile or othersuitable material, which said sheet is arranged to lie upon the articlewhen the latter is in place upon the bed or holder. The starching rollis reciprocated so that it will traverse the sheet thus applied upon thearticle, and will while distributing the starch upon the sheet, forcethe starch through the same. By this arrangement I strain the starch,avoid its application to the article in a lumpy condition, and alsoregulate the quantity applied. The starching roll is held to its workwith a yielding spring pressure so that it will conform to anyirregularities in thickness in an article upon the bed and with a Viewof increasing the Working capacity of the machine, I may duplicate theforegoing describedV matters, as hereinafter fully setforth.

I also provide certain details of construction and arrangementconstituting matters of furtherimprovement as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure l represents in elevation astarching machine embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is avertical section through the same on line m-:r in Fig. l. Fig. 3 showsone of the starching rolls in cross section on a larger scale. Fig. 4shows on an exaggerated scale atransverse section through a portion ofthe starching roll face, and Fig. 5 is a like view of a portion of theface of one of the beds. Fig. 6 represents in elevation one of the upperside portions of the machine. Fig. 7 isa section on line y-y in Fig. 6.Fig. 8 shows one of the end portions of the reciprocating starching rollcarrier.

In said drawings, A indicates a trough or receptacle adapted for holdinga suitable quantity of starch and supported by a main frame B comprisinga couple of supporting sides or standards b arranged to position thestarch receptacle at a convenient elevation. The starch receptacle isprovided with a discharge pipe h having a suitable cock b2, and as ameans for keeping the starch at a proper temperature and consistency Iarrange within the starch receptacle a perforated steam pipe b3 whichcan be supplied from any convenient source of supply. VVhenevei-foundnecessary, the steam-supply can be let on, and steam introduced into themass of starch, so as to warm and moisten the same.

The machine illustrated is provided with a. couple of reciprocatingstarching rolls so as to increase its working capacity, and to such endthese rolls are attached to a reciprocating carrier C which may beoperated by hand or other power, but which is more desirably operated bysome suitable power driven mechanisin so as to insure rapid and steadywork. The ends c of the reciprocatingcarrier are guided by Ways Darranged upon the mainframe of the machine, and as a simple, compact andconvenient arrangement of driving mechanism, the carrier is reciprocatedfrom crank-disks E by pitmen e,'and the crankdisks are iiXed upon arotary shaft e which is driven from a driving shaft F by chain andsprocket connection or other suitable gearing. In the illustrationpresented, these two shafts are` respectively provided with sprockets e2and f, and the shaft F which is conveniently arranged at the base of themachine is provided with ordinary fast and loose belt pulleys f2 and f3.

`With reference to certain further details in the construction ofthecarrier, its ends c are provided with studs carrying sleeves oranti-friction rolls c which traverse the guideways D so as to insureeasy and steady work. Said ends of the carrier are also provided withbearings c2 for a rod c3 which connects said ends with one another andwhich pro- SoV IOO

vides upper journals for the pitmen. The starching rolls G are suspendedfrom the carrier so that they may both dip into the starch when thecarrier reaches the end of its down stroke, and in rising with thecarrier, and after leaving the main supply of starch within the bottomportion of the starch rebeptacle apply the starch to such articles asmay be placed upon beds H, arranged within the trough or receptacle A.Asamatter of course the starching rolls could be operated to starch sucharticles if the beds H Were arranged somewhathigher than shown butthiswouldinvolve a longer stroke on the part of the carrier so as topermit the rolls to dip into the starch, and a consequent loss of time,and hence, to render the device more simple, compact and rapid inoperation, the beds H are arranged within and at opposite sides of thestarch receptacle, whereby as soon as the rolls rise from the starch,they can begin the Work of applying the same to the articles on thebeds.

In order to maintain the rolls against the articles with yieldingpressure, I suspend the rolls from the carrier by springs or spring armsg and provide the carrier with cams or eccentrics g arranged to engagethe springs and adapted for rotary adjustment so as to vary the degreeof force with which the springs will hold the starching rolls up totheir allotted work.

The sheets I of open work fabric or analogous flexible oraminousmaterial are at their lower ends attached to the lower end portionsofthe beds H, and at their upper ends attached to rods t' arranged overthe starch receptacle and disposed parallel with the starching rolls.These rods c' are removably supported upon walls or guard plates b4which rise at the ends of the starching trough or receptacle. The rodsalso constitute supports for a cover K which may also rest upon ledges'i2 on said guard-plates.

The beds 'H are at their upper portions hinged to slides or slidingtablesL upon which the articles to be starched can be laid preparatoryto placing them upon the beds. The beds are brought into co-operativerelationship with the rolls by adjusting the slides or tables toward therolls, as in Fig. 2 wherein one table is shown adjusted in position tocause its alloted bed to hang in proper relationship to one of thestarching rolls. In said figure, the remaining table is shown adj ustedin position to draw its allotted bed away from the roll next adjacentthereto, and to'also so separate the bedfromits allotted strainer sheetI as to permit an article on the bed to be removed and anotherarticletobe placed thereon.

The sliding tables are provided with angular wall sections or guardplates M having portions m which meet the wall portions b4 when thetables are moved toward the rolls, it being observed that the remainingportions m of said guard plates stand at right angles to said portionsm, as will be understood by reference to Fig. l. The tables are alsoprovided with latches or locking levers O by means of which they can betemporarily locked after being properly adjusted.

The carriers are desirably subject to balance springs P suspended fromsupports p on the guide-way standards CZ and at their lower endsattached to the ends of the carrier.

The faces of the starching rolls and beds are ribbed or corrugated andas a matter of further improvement I so corrugate the roll faces as toprovide channels g2 having concaved side Walls as best shown at g3 Fig.4, by which arrangement I provide the rolls With pockets for receivingand holding the starch in larger quantities, and parting with the samemore gradually than could be attained by an ordinary groove or channel.4

The ribs h of the bed-faces may be of any desired form, although Iprefer making them V-shaped or serrated as best shown in Fig. 5.

The rear sides of the beds are provided with bumpers h which restagainst the sides of the starch receptacle and permit the beds to bereadily drawn up when the slides or tables L are drawn back.

The slides and beds can when desired be readily removed from themachine, and in such case the rods rcan be removed from the guards b4which support them. y

With further reference to the flexible sheet I, it will be observed thatit also constitutes an apron for holding the article to be starched uponthe starching board H when the latter is in proper position relative tothe roll. Said sheet may be of any suitable foraminous or IOO open Workmaterial, and broadly considered as an apron for holding down the workunder treatment, it will be noted that its openings serve as passagesfor passing the starch to the article, regardless of the size of mesh'or openings; also that independently of its function as an apron forholding down the work, the sheet may be employed as a strainer, butsthatas a preferred arrangement, it serves both as a strainer, and as anapron for holding down the work.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A starching machine omprisingastarch receptacle, a bed or support which holds the article that is tobe starched removed from the supply of starch Within the starchreceptacle and a reciprocating starching roll operating to take up asupply of starch from the receptacle, and to apply the same to thearticle upon the bed orsupport, in alternation, substantially asdescribed.

2. A starching machine comprising a starch receptacle, a bed or supportwhich holds the article that is to be starched removed from the supplyof starch within the starch-receptacle a flexible foraminous or openWork sheet arranged to cover said article, and a reciprocating starchingroll operating to take a supply of starch from the receptacle and totraverse the said fiexible foraminous or open work sheet in alternationso as to first take a suitable quantity of starch from the main sourceIIO of supply and then apply the same to the article by distributing itover and forcing it through the said sheet substantially as described.

3. A starching machine comprising a starch receptacle, a bed or supportarranged to rise Within the starch receptacle to an extent to supportthe article that is to be starched removed frorn a supply of starchoccupying the bottom portion of the receptacle, and a reciprocatingstarching roll having an up and down movement and operating to dipWithin the starch and to traverse an article upon the bed or support, inalternation so as to irst take up a suitable quantity of starch from themain supply and then distribute the same over the article, substantiallyas described.

4. The combination in astarching machine of a reciprocating starchingroll operating to take a supply of starch from a main source of supplyand to distribute the same upon the article requiring starching, inalternation, and a bed H for said article arranged for adj ustment inand out of co-operative relationship with the starching roll,substantially as dcscribed.

5. In a starching machine provided with a reciprocating starchin g rolland stationary starching trough, a bed I-l adjustable into and out ofcooperative relationship With the starching roll, and a movable table Ladj ustable With reference to the adjustment of the bed, substantiallyas set forth.

6. In a starching machine a bed Whereon the articlev to be starched isplaced, a reciprocating carrier, and a starching roll suspendedtherefrom and maintained in co-operative relationship with the bed byspring action, substantially as set forth.

7. In a starching machine, the combination of a bed H, a suspendedforaminous or open Work sheet I attached to the lower portion of thebed, and a reciprocating starching roll arranged to distribute starchupon and force it through said sheet upon an article placed between thesheet and bed substantially as set forth.

8. The combination in a starching machine of a bed Whereon the articleto be starched is placed, a reciprocating carrier, and astarching rollattached to the reciprocating carrier by spring arms, substantially asset forth.

9. The combination in a starching machine of a starching roll, springarms supporting the starching roll and cams or eccentrics g foradjusting the spring arms, substantially as set forth.

10. In astarching machine, the starching Y receptacle, a couple ofstarching rolls suspended from a reciprocating carrier and arranged todip into the starch receptacle, and beds for the purpose set fortharranged Within and at opposite sides of the starching receptacle,substantially as described.

1l. In a starching machine, a reciprocating starching roll, a bed, aforaminous or perforated sheet I attached at one end to an end of thebed, and a rod z" to which the opposite end of said sheet is attached,substantially as set forth.

12. In a starching machine, a sliding table L, and a bed H hinged to thesliding table and arranged to hang therefrom Within the starchreceptacle in co-operative relationship with the reciprocating starchingroll, substantially as set forth.

13. A starching machine comprising the starch receptacle, reciprocatingstarching rolls G suspended from a reciprocating carrier, bedsI-Iarranged to rise Within the starch receptacle, and slides connectedwith the beds for the purpose of raising and lowering the same,substantially as set forth.

14E. The combination in a starching machine of the reciprocating carrierC, provided with one or starching rolls, balance springs "suspending thecarrier, and a driving mechanism by which the carrier is reciprocated,substantially as set forth. v

15. In a starching machine, a bed Whei'eon the article to be starched isplaced, a starch receptacle, a reciprocating starching roll arranged todip into the starch receptacle, and a perforated steam pipe arrangedWithin the starch receptacle whereby the starch can be kept in propercondition, substantially as described. Y

16. In a starching machine, the starch receptacle A,.end guards b4 andsliding tables provided with guards M, substantially as described.

17. In a starching machine, the starching roll having a corrugated faceWith concaved sides for the channels, so as to form starchholdingpockets, substantially as described.

THOR A. THORSEN.

Witnesses:

CHAs. G. PAGE, W. D. MIDDLETON.

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